NARROWSBURG, N.Y. — Young men representing 38 troops from stakes afar abreast as Wilmington, Del., Albany County, N.Y., Hartford, Conn., and Long Island, N.Y., along with more than 100 adult priesthood leaders, attended the annual Hudson-Delaware LDS Regional Scout Encampment July 2-9. This year it was held at the campgrounds of the Greater New York Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Narrowsburg, N.Y. The camp is the second largest Scouting site in the country, second only to Philmont in New Mexico.
The yearly encampment is uniquely LDS, operated under a consortium of the Morristown, Caldwell and Scotch Plains stakes in New Jersey, as well as the Newburgh New York Stake. The encampment staff, with the exception of contracted dining personnel, is LDS, compared with the regular BSA-run camp whose employees conduct and supervise the remaining weeks.
Scot Michel of the Caldwell New York Stake has been the director for the past two years and is passing the mantel to William Hearn of the Newburgh New York Stake for the next two years. Planning begins soon after each camp closes.
Michel said one of the best features of having the yearly gathering is that Aaronic Priesthood holders not only earn merit badges, but the boys enjoy the rare opportunity to have fun with those sharing the same values without peer pressure to conform. He added that youths learn to recognize they can have a great deal in common with those coming from different environments, ethnicities and cultures. They are led by priesthood holders who set examples as well as encourage spiritual and temporal growth.
It is not unusual for the individual Scouts to be the only LDS members in their classes or schools.
Many of the Scouts come back as volunteers to work under the supervision of the activity directors they have come to respect and admire.